Plectranthus plant named ‘De Wet P’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Plectranthus  plant named ‘De Wet P’ that is characterized by its ‘De Wet P’ exhibits large flowers that are deep pink in color. its floriferous blooming habit, its well-branched plant habit, and its vigorous growth habit.

Botanical classification: Plectranthus hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘De Wet P’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPlectranthus of hybrid origin and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘De Wet P’. ‘De Wet P’ is grown for use as a tenderperennial landscape plant.

The new Plectranthus resulted from a breeding program conducted by theInventors in Linbro Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. The goal of thebreeding program was to develop new cultivars of Plectranthus withabundant, large flowers with good branching and strong and vigorousgrowth habits. The Inventors made crosses in April of 2018 betweenunnamed proprietary plants (not patented) of Plectranthus in theInventors' breeding program as both the female parent and male parent.‘De Wet P’ was selected as a single unique plant in October of 2020 fromthe resulting seedlings of the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by one ofthe Inventors by stem cuttings in October of 2020 in Linbro Park,Johannesburg, South Africa. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘De Wet P’ as a unique cultivar of Plectranthus.

-   -   1. ‘De Wet P’ exhibits large flowers that are deep pink in        color.    -   2. ‘De Wet P’ exhibits a floriferous blooming habit.    -   3. ‘De Wet P’ exhibits a well-branched plant habit.    -   4. ‘De Wet P’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit.

The male parent differs from ‘De Wet P’ in having flowers that areviolet purple in color. The female parent differs from ‘De Wet P’ inhaving flowers that are paler pink in color. ‘De Wet P’ can be comparedto the cultivars ‘TNPLEVL’ (U.S. Plant Patent Pending) and ‘De Wet F’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,501). ‘TNPLEVL’ differs from ‘De Wet P’ inhaving smaller flower that are paler pink in color with a white base andinflorescences that are less branched. ‘De Wet F’ is similar to ‘De WetP’ in having large flowers and a dense and well-branched plant habit.‘De Wet F’ differs from ‘De Wet P’ in having flowers that are purple incolor and a shorter plant height.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTORS

The Applicants assert that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicants claim aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosures and/orsales that fall within a one-year grace period prior to the filing date.Disclosure includes but may not be limited to a website listing byFacebook, YouTube, The Gardener, Plants Management Australia, FourSeasons Nursery and Garden Center, and Greenleaf Nursery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of a six-month-old plant of the newPlectranthus as grown in a conventional greenhouse in a 21-cm containerin Linbro Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘De Wet P’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescencesof ‘De Wet P’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography techniques utilized and the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the newPlectranthus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of seven-month-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in a conventional greenhouse in 3-qt containers inLoxly, Alabama. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from mid-summer to mid-winter in            South Africa, autumn in northern climates.        -   Plant type.—Perennial, evergreen subshrub.        -   Plant habit.—Upright and well branched.        -   Height and spread.—Average of 68 cm in height, 52 cm in            width as grown in a one-gallon container, an average of 90            cm in height and 65 cm in width when grown in the landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 10.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to pests            or diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Densely fibrous, freely branched, 158C in            color.        -   Root development.—5 to 6 weeks to initiate roots and an            average of 5 weeks to produce a young plant from a rooted            cutting.        -   Propagation—Stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Quadrangular.        -   Stem color.—Young and mature stems a blend of 146A, 187A and            N186A.        -   Stem surface.—Young and mature stems; glossy and densely            pubescent covered with soft adpressed hairs; too small to            measure size, matches stem surface.        -   Stem size.—Main branch; average of 30 cm in length, 8 mm in            diameter, lateral branches; an average of 22 cm in length            and 5 mm in diameter.        -   Internode length.—Ranging between 3 cm and 12 cm.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem fragrance.—When rubbed, moderately strong musty            fragrance; typical for Plectranthus.        -   Stem aspect.—Upright, average angle of 35° from main branch.        -   Branching.—3 main stems and an average of 8 lateral branches            per main stem.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly convex.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface matches leaf            color, lower surface 187A.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 16 per lateral stem.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface; glossy and moderately            pubescent, covered with stiff, short hairs that are            translucent, 0.4 mm in length, and match surface color.        -   Leaf size.—Up to 7 cm in length and 6 cm in width.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; NN137A, mature upper            surface; NN137A and 139A, young and mature lower surface;            194A, flushed with 187A.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Moderately strong musty fragrance, typical            for Plectranthus.        -   Petiole.—An average of 2.5 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width,            strong, color; a blend of N186C and NN137A, surface is            glossy and densely covered with soft woolly translucent            pubescence up to 1 mm in length and 187A n color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Axillary and terminal racemes.        -   Inflorescence number.—1 per main stem and lateral stems.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Flowers last an average of one            week, self-cleaning.        -   Inflorescence size.—Up to 33 cm in height and 15 cm in            width.        -   Flower buds.—Average of 4 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter,            oblong in shape, glabrous and satiny surface, N75A in color.        -   Flowers.—Single, held outward to slightly upward, labiate in            form, average of 3.5 cm in length, 2.5 cm in in diameter,            tube; 2 cm in length, 6 mm in width, throat depth is shallow            and 2 mm in length, average of 150 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Petals.—5; base fused into tube, 2 petals fused into one            upper petal lobe, two lateral petal lobes and one lower            petal lobe, upper petal lobe; rounded, obcordate in shape,            base is fused into lateral petals and tube, held vertically,            sides slightly cupped outward and rugose, 1.4 cm in length            and 1.5 cm in width, margins are very slightly undulate,            lateral petals; rounded, reniform in shape, 6 mm in length            and 3 mm in width, margins are entire, held upright, base is            fused into lateral petals and tube, lower petal; orbicular            in shape, folded, 9 mm in length, 5 mm in width, margins            undulate, base fused into tube, surfaces of all petal            surfaces are glabrous, satiny and have a sheen and sparkling            appearance, color: when opening and fully open upper and            inner surface; N74C and N74A, tube when opening and fully            open inner and outer surface; 69B.        -   Calyx.—5 mm in length and 3 mm in width, comprised of 5            sepals.        -   Peduncles.—Strong to moderately strong, average of 15 cm in            length and 3 mm in diameter, terminal inflorescence held at            an angle of 0° (vertical) and 45° for axillary            inflorescences, a blend of 187B and N187A in color, surface            is glossy and densely covered with stiff minute hairs that            are translucent and shiny; minute in size, and either            matching surface color or are NN155D in color.        -   Pedicels.—In pairs of 3, whorled down the peduncle,            moderately strong, average of 6 mm in length and 1 mm in            diameter, held at a 40° angle to horizontal to peduncle, a            blend of 187B and N187A in color, surface is glossy and            densely covered with stiff minute hairs that are translucent            and shiny; minute in size, and either matching surface color            or are NN155D in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistils.—1, pistil; stigma; bifid, 0.5 mm in length and            diameter, glabrous and matte surface, N78A in color, style;            2.5 cm in length, 0.75 mm in diameter, glabrous and shiny            surface, color; top to mid-section 84C, mid-section to base            NN155D, ovary; exterior, rounded, glabrous and glossy            surface, 2 mm in diameter and length, 144A in color.        -   Stamens.—4, anthers; dorsifixed, oblong in shape, average of            1 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, 203C in color, matte and            glabrous surface, filament; 40% of lower section fused into            flower tube, 60% free, aspect is straight to curled under,            2.7 cm in length, N155D in color, glabrous and shiny            surface, slightly translucent, pollen; moderate in quantity,            155A in color.        -   Fruit and seeds.—No fruit or seed development has been            observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Plectranthus plantnamed ‘De Wet P’ as herein illustrated and described.